Working Experiences of Outstanding Family Care Doctors (FCDs): A Health Literate Community Contribution

Abstract

Outstanding family care doctors were health care providers: nurses and public health officers who worked in the communities and were voted from community people to be outstanding FCDs. The criteria for being outstanding FCDs were: 1) planting trees, 2) behavioural modification and health status improvement of community people, 3) 5 precepts conducting, 4) performing health promotion, health prevention, treatment, rehabilitation for community people, and 5) taking care of people with chronic conditions and disabilities. Thus, their works had great impact on community people’s health. This qualitative research aimed to explore working experiences of outstanding family care doctors (FCDs) working in the community. Method: Study areas were 23 communities, both in urban and rural area, where the work places of outstanding FCDs. Participants were: 1) a total of 23 outstanding FCDs. 2) community leaders, 3) community health volunteers, and 4) community people living in each community. Data were collected by using 1) in-depth interview with 23 outstanding FCDs individually, 2) focus groups discussion with community leaders, health volunteers and community people in each community separately, participants and non-participant observation. Data collection was done simultaneously with data analysis. Data were analysed by using content analysis and comparative method of analysis. Results: Working experiences of FCDs was a health literate community contribution. A health literate community contribution was composed of 9 components: 1) Community health problems and needs analysis, 2) Community health center development, 3) Community health curriculum development, 4) Specific training for community health volunteer, 5) Specific training for community people, 6) Literate home visit, 7) Lifestyle modification and health status improvement, 8) Community learning center development, and 9) Show and share community learning center tour. The 5 factors affecting a health literate community contribution were: 1) Primary care policy of the hospital, 2) Community health curriculum development, 3) Home visit, 4) Multidisciplinary team working, and 5) Community networking. It is suggested that a health literacy community need to focus on learning experience development from community context across multi-level: individual, family and community. To be the sustainable health literate community, the community's way of living modification need to be considered.